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“Agreed.” She laughed and helped Sue get Cole’s boots on. “You three have a great day, and I’ll be here when you get home.” Cole gurgled at her to get some more attention.
We said our goodbyes, headed outside, and into the car where we cranked the heat.
We continued up the mountain toward Shadows, and I watched out the window. I’d never tire of this drive.
“I really missed her these past few months.” Sue settled into her seat. “Could you imagine if she decided to stay here? Now that her dad has passed, she won’t have any reason to come back.”
“I know.”
“I know she loves it here, more than at her sister’s place in New York. She’s never been one for the city.”
“Yes, the country life is better than the city any day of the week.”
“Imagine if she and the doctor got together.” I could tell Sue was already plotting her next move. “It’s just another reason to get her to stay here.”
“Now, Sue,” I gave her a pointed look, but it quickly faded because I was just as on board with keeping Abby here as she was, “we need to play this carefully. You know both of them are very independent people, so we must tread carefully. He’s seen her naked, so he knows what’s under the drapes. The hard part is done.” I smirked and jiggled my head at her to make her laugh. “Now we just need him to get to know her personality, and that shouldn’t be hard because she’s very easy to be around.”
“She is,” Sue agreed. “We just need to plan a few dinners and outings when she’s in town. Oh! He loves chess. Maybe she does, too.”
“Dinner is good, but we can’t be obvious about it.”
“We won’t,” she smirked, “but sometimes Cupid needs a kick in the ass.” She made me laugh, and we continued to plot the rest of the way up the mountain.
Zack met us at the door after coming back from meeting his brother for lunch in town.
“Hey, how was Abby’s trip?” He hung his coat up and gave Cole some attention.
“It was good. How’s Brad?”
“Pretty good. He’s nursing a hangover, so I had my fun at Patty’s today.”
“Could you two be any more alike?” Sue teased, giving him a hug. “Have you seen Tracy lately?”
“Not since she started dating Bruce, the guy from the bank. She seems happy.”
I was happy that Zack and Tracy had dated, if only for a few months. When they separated, we all remained good friends. They knew they just weren’t compatible, and that was fair enough.
“Hey, Daniel, it’s all ready when you guys are,” Frank called from another room.
“Ready to make history, Cole?” I whisked him in the air, dismissing Sue’s warning that he just ate, and joined my family and friends in the living room.
“There’s the man of the hour.” Dad reached out and rubbed Cole’s head, which resulted in a little brown tuft of hair standing straight up on end.
I kissed my wife on the lips and bent down to check out the floorboard that had been pulled up for the occasion. Fresh cement had been poured in a small area and was all ready to go. “Someday, Cole, you’ll be the leader of Shadows. You’ll be a part of a third generation of soldiers in this family.” He wiggled in my arms, and I knew he’d love the idea of getting those hands dirty again. As Dad helped to steady his solid little body, I held out my son and pressed his hand into the wet concrete next to my name.
“Perfect,” Mom said as she wiped a tear then snapped a few photos.
I handed Cole off to his momma, and she made a face as she whisked him off to wash his hands, and probably to change his diaper, while I lowered the board back into place, Dad hammered the nails back in, and we shook hands. The pride on his face gave me a lump in my throat.
“We’re so proud of you, Daniel, and all of this.” My mom wrapped an arm around my waist as we stood and soaked up the heat from the fireplace. “We always knew you’d do great things, but running this place with your father is just amazing to see.”
“It is, isn’t it?” I looked around and wondered if the place would always feel this warm and safe, what Cole would be like when he led his own team, and if he would love it as much as Dad and I did.
“So, Cole is getting big. Have you and Sue thought about having any more kids?” Mom pursed her lips and looked at me.
“We talked about it,” I admitted, “but I don’t think we’re ready just yet. Maybe in a few years.”
“Good for you. You do what you want and don’t let anyone tell you different.” She pulled my head down and kissed my cheek.
